The uncle, identified as Charles Wright, 46, found the youth in his bed at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Andrews said.

The teenager had been alone when the attack occurred, Andrews said. He suffered massive head injuries and a gunshot wound, officials said.

Blood was spattered throughout the bedroom indicating the boy had struggled with his attacker, police said.

Police had no suspects or motives in the slaying, Andrews said.

Wright found Yusef in his third-floor apartment, which had been broken into and ransacked, police said. It was not known what if anything had been taken, authorities said.

Yusef`s grandmother, Nellie Wright, said she did not know if the uncle was home when the teenager arrived, whether the boy decided to spend the night at the apartment alone, or if the uncle left the teenager in the apartment.

Yusef, one of five brothers, had lived with his grandmother since their mother, Diane, died in 1989, his grandmother said.